Work Text:
The hand Andrew had wrapped around his glass tightened as he watched a man slide up behind Neil, wrapping a hand around his waist. Andrew watched as Neil instantly stilled at the touch and turned around, he placed a hand on the man's chest and pushed him back forcefully, just as he always did when this happened.
It had taken years of Nicky’s nagging and Neil eventually feeling comfortable enough to drink alcohol before he had stepped onto the dance floor at Eden’s. Andrew still remembers the first night, Neil’s eyes had been particularly vibrant, offset by the dark eyeliner Allison had put on him. Nicky had asked for the millionth time if Neil was going to come for a dance. Neil had stared out at the dance floor for a moment before agreeing. Nicky had nearly fallen off his seat in shock but quickly pulled himself together to get Neil on the dance floor.
Andrew had grit his teeth and watched as Neil quickly got the hang of moving his hips in time to the music. He’d worn a large grin as he danced across from Nicky who looked like he was about ready to wet his pants in excitement.
And now here they were, months of Neil’s dancing and Andrew’s suffering later.
“You know you can go dance with him right?”
Andrew turned to where Kevin was sitting next to him.
“Shut the fuck up Kevin.”
“I’m being serious.”
Andrew turned a glare on him and Kevin quickly quietened. Andrew turned his gaze back to the dance floor. The man that Neil had pushed away had come back towards him, he had his arms wrapped around Neil’s upper body and Neil was squirming and shoving with the effort to get out.
Andrew stood quickly and moved towards the pair, he couldn’t see Nicky or Aaron around, probably at the bar getting more drinks. Neil’s face relaxed briefly in relief when he spotted Andrew moving towards them before quickly igniting again in panic as the man started pulling him off the dance floor. Andrew quickened his pace in an effort to get to Neil sooner, shoving bodies out of the way as he went.
“Get your fucking hands off him.” Andrew said as he finally got close enough to be heard.
The man stopped dragging Neil and looked at Andrew, he scoffed as his eyes took Andrew in.
“What are you going to do about it short stack?”
Andrew saw red, he lunged forward ripping the man’s arms off Neil before he could react. He quickly stepped between Neil and the man, giving him a shove away from Neil.
Andrew didn’t look at Neil but he could feel Neil’s grip on the back of his shirt.
“Fucking asshole,” the man sneered down at Andrew, “maybe you should leash your boyfriend instead of letting him dance like a whore all night.”
Andrew heard a quiet intake of breath behind him and the grip on Andrew’s shirt tightened.
Andrew couldn’t be bothered keeping his anger in check any longer. “Neil let go.” He said quickly over his shoulder. The hand twisted in his shirt fabric dropped immediately and Andrew lunged forward.
His hand flared in pain as it connected with the asshole’s face and he managed to get a few more punches in before he was being dragged away by security.
Andrew allowed it, a vicious smirk on his face as the guy watched him, stunned expression on his face as he raised a hand to his bloody mouth.
“Fucks sake Andrew.” The bouncer said as he deposited Andrew on the sidewalk, Neil, Kevin, Aaron and Nicky quickly following behind.
“Go home and don’t let it happen again.” The bouncer said before walking back inside.
“Let’s go.” Andrew said and started walking towards the car, he felt his body slowly start to calm in the silence as they got into the car.
Nicky’s common sense seemed to flee him only moments later when he chose to break it.
“What the fuck Andrew, why did you punch that guy?”
Andrew’s eyes flicked to the rearview, Neil was looking back at him through it. They locked eyes for a moment before Andrew broke his gaze, turning back to the road.
Andrew shrugged, “He was being an asshole.”
Nicky sighed exasperatedly, “You can’t just go around punching everyone who’s an asshole. That’s not how society works.”
Andrew shrugged again and the topic was dropped, Nicky instead chattering away about some useless gossip he’d heard while in the bathroom at Eden’s.
By the time they pulled up at the house Andrew’s adrenaline had worn off and the pain from his knuckles was throbbing through his hand. He looked down at them as he turned the car off. He’d have to clean and wrap it when he got inside.
Nicky, Aaron and Kevin all quickly walked off to bed once walking through the door, Neil stayed with Andrew in the foyer.
“Can I help you clean your hand?”
Andrew looked over to Neil who gestured a hand in the vague direction of Andrew’s injuries. Andrew supposed it would be easier to have someone else work on his hands rather than having to awkwardly do it one handed.
“Ok.” Andrew said before walking towards the bathroom that had the first aid kit.
He pulled it out and sat on the counter, legs swinging off the edge.
Neil went over to the kit, pulling out supplies and carefully laying them beside Andrew’s leg.
He reached out and looked to Andrew’s face in question, when Andrew nodded Neil carefully picked Andrew’s hand up in his, his touch so gentle it almost tickled. Andrew swallowed as Neil maneuvered Andrew’s hand where he wanted it.
Neil brought the disinfectant wipe to Andrew’s knuckles and wiped over them a lot more carefully than Andrew would have done for himself. Nonetheless Andrew still hissed at the sting of the moisture in his wounds.
“Sorry.” Neil said quietly, looking at Andrew from under his lashes briefly before returning to wipe over his hands.
“Not your fault.”
They continued in silence until Andrew noticed a shake to Neil’s hands, he watched for a moment as Neil rearranged the wipe to a clean section, unsteadily bringing it down to Andrew’s knuckles. The shaking only worsened as Andrew watched.
“Neil.” Andrew whispered quietly. Neil didn’t look up at him and even in the harsh light of the bathroom Andrew couldn’t see the expression on Neil’s face.
“Neil.” Andrew repeated again softly.
Neil’s hair bounces as he shakes his head, continuing to clean Andrew’s hand. Andrew reaches his hand up and places it on Neil’s shaky one, stilling its movement.
“Neil, what’s wrong?”
“I’m fine.” His voice is choked and comes out cracking.
“Neil, look at me.”
Neil’s eyes lock on Andrew’s as he tilts his head up, his lashes clumped together and eyes glossy with unshed tears.
Andrew’s brow furrows and he brings a hand up to Neil’s face, he hovers there a moment until Neil nods and Andrew gently cups Neil’s cheek. Neil’s eyes close and a tear slides down his cheek as he lets out a shaky breath.
“What’s wrong?” Andrew asks again quietly.
Neil takes a deep breath, opening his eyes. Neil stares at something behind Andrew’s shoulder.
“I fucking hate when they touch me.” Neil chokes down a sob.
“Neil.” Andrew says quietly and watches a few more tears slide down Neil’s cheeks.
“Can I hold you?” Andrew asks and wraps Neil in his arms when the man nods. Neil buries his face in Andrew’s neck and something eases in Andrew as he feels Neil’s breath softly brush against his neck.
“I hate them touching you too,” Andrew whispers in Neil’s ear, “I won’t let it happen anymore.”
“You can’t promise that.” Neil mumbles against Andrew’s neck. Some of the tension has seemed to ease in his body as he slumps further into Andrew.
“I can try my best to make it happen.”
Andrew scratches his fingers through Neil’s hair and the man melts further into him.
Andrew wakes the next morning to a heavy warmth across his chest, he squints against the harsh morning light leaking through the window and glances down to see Neil sprawled against his chest. Neil is still asleep, breath fanning against Andrew’s chest, face relaxed and calmer than it ever looked in wakefulness.
Andrew reaches to the nightstand, grabbing his phone from where he’d plugged it in last night.
He feels Neil stretch beside him, “-time’s it?” Neil mumbles into Andrew’s chest.
Andrew looks down to see Neil squinting at him, Andrew bites down a smile at the disgruntled expression.
“Ten.”
Neil groans and pushes his face into Andrew’s stomach, pulling his arm tighter around Andrew’s waist. Andrew drags his hand up and down Neil’s back, fingers playing softly with the knobs of his spine.
“How’s your hand?” Neil lifts his head, resting his chin on Andrew’s chest.
Andrew lifts his hand and flexes his fingers, winching slightly at the pull on his knuckles.
Neil frowns and grabs Andrew’s hand, pulling it towards him, eyeing his knuckles carefully.
“Should be ok soon.” Neil says after examining for a moment, he drops a kiss to Andrew’s knuckles before threading their fingers together.
“How are you feeling?” Andrew asks Neil, “No saying you’re fine.”
Neil rolls his eyes, “I’m better.”
Andrew hums, “I meant what I said you know.”
Neil stares at him, “I know.” He says softly.
Neil lifts himself off Andrew’s chest and leans up.
“Kiss?”
It’s now Andrew’s turn to roll his eyes, he wraps a hand around the back of Neil’s neck and pulls him forward. Neil smiles into the kiss as Andrew presses their lips together.